The Ipswich ‘Tru Mix’ Witches travel to Norfolk tomorrow night to take on the King’s Lynn Stars in their final Sports Insure Premiership fixture of the league campaign.

The two sides were due to meet at the Adrian Flux Arena last month before the Stars postponed the fixture claiming they were ‘unable to field a competitive team’ before announcing the signing of Robert Lambert the next day.

The East Anglian rivals met at Foxhall in August with a five-man Witches side recording a 12-point win against a patched-up Stars side. The Suffolk side need to pick up all three points to put them in the play-off places before waiting to see if Leicester can overhaul them in their final two fixtures.  

The visitors will be without Rising Star Dan Thompson due to his dislocated shoulder with youngster Ashton Boughen guesting in his place. There is also a change in the riding order with Danyon Hume moving up to number two as Keynan Rew drops to reserve. Erik Riss rides at number four.

Witches team manager Ritchie Hawkins said: “I have been really pleased with the determination shown by the boys to turn it around over the last six weeks and that has brought great confidence. We will go there looking to pick up three points and leave Leicester needing three points from their last two away fixtures to stop us getting in the play-offs.  

“We talk a lot about the rivalry but there is a bigger picture to look at going into this meeting now. The main point is putting as much pressure on Leicester as possible in the race for the play-offs. The form we are in, what that could bring to the end of the season with the cup final, it could be an exciting few weeks. We have aimed all season to be in the play-offs and we have got the massive motivation that a win at King’s Lynn gives us a chance of that.

“Also, the boys and our supporters have been messed around heavily with both of our league meetings at King’s Lynn being postponed at late notice for nonsense reasons outside of our control, so there is an added motivation that everyone who still takes their time to travel to King’s Lynn leaves happy.

“We have a change in riding order with Keynan moving back to reserve and Danyon going into the team. He did a solid job in the team earlier in the season and Keynan has been going well in the last couple of meetings and his confidence is improving. A trip to reserve at this stage of the season could be massive for us as a team and Keynan could finish his season on a high. They have brought Rob in and I’m sure everyone is looking forward to seeing him go head-to-head with Emil and Jason and that will provide some great entertainment.”

 

KING’S LYNN: 1. Robert Lambert 7.81 2. R/R for Nicolai Klindt 6.89 3. Emil Breum 5.00 4. Connor Mountain (G) 5.04 5. Michael Palm Toft 6.38 6. Simon Lambert 4.25 © 7. Anders Rowe (RS). Team Manager: David Hoggart

IPSWICH: 1. Emil Sayfutdinov 10.14 2. Danyon Hume 4.00 3. Danny King 7.03 © 4. Erik Riss 5.03 5. Jason Doyle 9.21 6. Keynan Rew 4.00 7. Ashton Boughen (G) (RS). Team Manager: Ritchie Hawkins